“Nothing About Us Without Us”
(“Is a slogan used to communicate the idea that no policy should be decided by any representatives without the full and direct participation of members of the group(s) affected by that policy”.)

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 3, 2024

Afrikan Descendants, racialized as Black people in Belize and the Diaspora have systematically been betrayed by Belizean elected representatives who have a duty to genuinely communicate with us, actively ensure our participation in decision making, match their actions with their words, and be held accountable when political leaders willfully engage in bad governance!

United Black Association for Development Educational Foundation (UEF) is marking today’s date of Wednesday April 3, 2024 of holding the Prime Minister John “Johnny” Briceno’s administration accountable for continuously making decisions on behalf of Black people in Belize and the Diaspora without any meaningful conversations, debates, or communications.

For example:

1. The Government has failed to report to Belizeans/Black Belizeans specifically about regional and international agreements that will have a direct impact on our lives and the lives of our unborn children. The Government has failed to engage communities on:
   a. The Roadmap for the Implementation of the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation, and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean aka the Escazú Agreement
   b. The attendance at the 46th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Guyana February 25-28, 2024 (regarding Afrikan Reparations)
2. Acted on decisions glocally without consultation, for example the deployment of 31 members of the Belize Defence Force and 20 Coast Guards and their commanding officer, identified as the “Haiti contingent” to Jamaica, without any national debate, or informing Belizeans of the deployment before it happened.
3. Failing to respond to UEF’s emails of queries (emails of Solidarity with our Afrikan Aytian/Haitian Kinfolks popular movement, UEF’s strong objection to sending Belizean security forces to Ayti/Haiti to prop up Western imperialism and occupation of Ayti/Haiti dated: February 15, 2023 & September 26, 2023)
4. The Government has ignored the International Decade for People of African Descent 20152024. The theme of the Decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice, and development.” (for example: the 35 Port of Belize Ltd. employees who were fired by text in 2020)

This current Government of Belize has not been transparent, accountable, or inclusive with Afrikan Descendants racialized as Black people in Belize and the Diaspora.

The Government of Belize may respond to this UEF Protest Letter on behalf of Afrikan descendants racialized as Black people in Belize and the Diaspora by:

Immediately:
• Inform the public what is their legal basis for the deployment of Belizean security forces to Haiti without informing Belizeans/Black Belizeans in particular before the deployment.
• If no valid legal basis can be identified or if proper procedures were not followed – they should immediately withdraw the “Haiti contingent”.
• If a valid legal basis is disclosed the Government should immediately withdraw the “Haiti contingent” on moral and ethical grounds.

In the next 20 working days: 

• Release an update to all past UEF emails of queries and concerns.
• Facilitate meaningful community engagements with credible Black community leaders/organizers addressing the 4 (issue 1 has two sub-parts) concerns above.
• Agree to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UEF that will be a fair and just process before speaking and acting on behalf of Afrikan Descendants Belizeans in Belize and the Diaspora

Note: UEF has observed that some Black groups have been co-opted, who claim to represent Afrikan Descendants racialized as Black People in Belize and the Diaspora!

3304 Amandala Drive | Belize City | Belize | 202.4703 ext. 241 | email: [email protected]